Parmesan Crusted Cod

This Parmesan Crusted Cod recipe makes the perfect healthy dinner.  This tasty oven-baked cod is ready in just 20 minutes and made with just a handful of simple ingredients.  The perfect topping is made with Parmesan, panko breadcrumbs, Italian Seasoning, and lemon zest.  Serve it with Air Fryer Broccolini and Roasted Baby Red Potatoes for a perfectly healthy dinner.

If you love parmesan crusted fish, also try my Parmesan Panko Crusted Halibut, Parmesan Panko Crusted Salmon or Lemon Pepper Parmesan Tilapia.

Parmesan Crusted Cod recipe

This Parmesan Crusted Cod recipe makes such a fabulous dinner.  It's a huge upgrade over your standard Baked Cod or Air Fryer Blackened Cod, where the light but crunchy crust elevates the flavors, keeps it moist, and keeps it from being boring.  This simple, healthy oven-baked preparation elevates any fish from boring to restaurant-quality in less time than it would take to get takeout.

Baking the Parmesan Crusted Cod is super simple to prepare in less than 20 minutes with fresh cod and a handful of pantry staples like Parmesan cheese, panko breadcrumbs, Italian Seasoning, garlic powder, and lemon.  I love the way this simple recipe comes together without a lot of fuss and with super healthy ingredients.  It's one you can feel good serving again and again.  And I promise it's that good!

My whole family LOVED this dish, and everyone said it was one of their favorites!  Cod is an easy fish to like, thanks to its mild taste and flaky fish texture.  This is one of our favorite fish recipes.

Why You'll Love this Parmesan Crusted Cod recipe...

• This Parmesan Crusted Cod is super moist and tender because the moisture is sealed in by the topping.
• It's really easy to make, even if you aren't that comfortable cooking fish.
• If you crave a fish with some sort of breading, this is a great way to get it without deep-frying.
• Cod is an easy fish to find and cook with.
• This oven-baked cod recipe cooks hands-off.
• It's super healthy!  Only 220 calories and 34 grams of protein.

Ingredients:

Here's an overview of what you'll need to make this Parmesan Crusted Cod recipe, but keep scrolling for the full recipe amounts.

• Cod: You will need cod filets for this Parmesan Crusted Cod that are 4-6 ounces each and about ½ inch thick.  You can use any variety of cod, including Alaskan cod, Pacific cod, and black cod, also known as sablefish.  I use fresh or frozen cod fillets, depending on what is available.  If your fish is frozen, just thaw it overnight in the fridge.  If the fish has been frozen, pat it dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture.
• Parmesan Cheese: You can use any type of grated Parmesan cheese for this recipe.
• Panko Breadcrumbs: For healthy baked cod, I like to use Japanese-style panko bread crumbs.  They are light and crunchy, requiring little butter or oil. You will love this crunchy panko.
• Italian Seasoning: I like to use my Homemade Italian Seasoning Mix to add a lot of flavor from different herbs with minimal fuss.  It includes basil, oregano, thyme, and rosemary. Try this one for a store-bought option.
• Garlic Powder: A touch of garlic powder adds some rich flavor to the fish topping.  You can also add or substitute onion powder.
• Lemon Zest:  My surprise ingredient is a bit of lemon zest in the Parmesan topping.  It adds a lot of bright flavor to the fish!  My family loves lemon flavors, so this was a big hit!
• Lemon Juice: You'll need the rest of the lemon for squeezing lemon juice over the fish.
• Olive Oil: I use just a touch of extra virgin olive oil to add some stickiness so the topping will adhere to the fish.  You could also use mayonnaise or Dijon mustard to keep the topping from sticking.
• Salt & Black Pepper
• Garnish: Parsley & Lemon wedges

Instructions:

This is an overview of the instructions for making Parmesan Crusted Cod; the full, detailed, printable recipe is below in the recipe card.

1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees and spray a baking dish with a bit of cooking spray.  You can also use a sheet pan or baking sheet.
2. Zest the lemon,  and save the rest for lemon juice for the fish.
3. Carefully spread olive oil over the fish fillets. You want a thin coat on the entire top of the fish so the topping will stick. Salt and pepper the cod.
4. In a small bowl, mix together the panko, parmesan, Italian Seasoning, garlic powder, and lemon zest.  This mixture is the topping.
5. Carefully put the cheese crust mixture topping on the fish and lightly press it onto the fish. You can also put the topping on a flat plate and firmly press the top of the fish into the topping.
6. Bake the cod for 10-12 minutes until it turns opaque and flakes with a fork.  To get a slightly more golden color on the breading, turn on the broiler for just a minute at the end of cooking, but watch it carefully.
7. Serve with lemon and fresh parsley and enjoy!

Cod Cooking Tips:

• Cod fish is relatively easy to cook!  This is a great starter recipe for fish.
• Cooking time for fish can vary widely depending on oven temperature and the thickness of the fish.  Generally, fish takes 10 minutes per inch of thickness.  So, a 1-inch-thick piece of cod will take about 10 minutes to cook.  Thicker pieces will take longer, and thinner pieces should take less time.
• The fish will be done when it turns opaque and flakes with a fork.
• If you like to use a meat thermometer, aim for 130-135 degrees.  The technical safe temperature to cook fish is at 145 degrees, but I find that dries it out, so use your discretion on that.
• Do not overcook the cod or any fish; it will become chewy and dry.
• It will be easiest to cook the fish if you have fillets of similar shape and size, so they cook evenly.
• To save time on cleanup, you can line your baking dish with aluminum foil or parchment paper.

Parmesan Crusted Cod Variations

I love this Parmesan Crusted Cod recipe as written, but here are some fun variations.

• Make it Spicy: To give this fish a touch of heat, add some crushed red pepper flakes to the topping.
• Mix up the Flavors: I used Italian Seasoning in my recipe, but you can use a single spice mix or a different one for a different flavor.  A few tasty options would be Everything but the Bagel Seasoning, Ranch Seasoning Mix,  Herbs de Provence, or Cajun Seasoning.
• Mix up the Fish: Use another white fish, such as halibut, seabass, flounder, or haddock.

FAQ

Storage & Leftovers

You can store any leftover Cod in the refrigerator for up to 3 days in an airtight container.  I think it's best enjoyed freshly cooked out of the oven, but it does keep.  To reheat it, microwave it for about 1 minute.

Freezing

I would not re-freeze the cooked fish because it would turn mushy.

Is Parmesan cheese good on Cod?

Yes!  This simple Parmesan topping elevates cod's flavor and takes this dinner recipe to the next level.

How long to cook crusted cod?

This dish still cooks quickly, even with the topping!  Cook the cod for 1-15 minutes, depending on its thickness.

If you make this Parmesan Crusted Cod, I’d love to hear what you think! Leave a comment and a star rating ★ below. Make sure to follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook, too!

Parmesan Crusted Cod

Julie Wunder

This Parmesan Crusted Cod recipe makes the perfect healthy dinner.  This tasty oven-baked cod is ready in just 20 minutes and made with just a handful of simple ingredients.  The perfect topping is made with Parmesan, panko breadcrumbs, Italian Seasoning, and lemon zest. 

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 20 minutes mins

Course Dinner

Cuisine American

Servings 4

Calories 219 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 4 cod fillets, about 6 ounces
• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• ⅓ cup parmesan
• ⅓ cup panko
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 lemon, zested & juiced
• ½ teaspoon Italian Seasoning
• salt & pepper

Instructions

 

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees and spray a baking dish with cooking spray.
• Zest the lemon.
• Place the cod fillets on a plate and squeeze the lemon juice onto the fish.
• Carefully spread the olive oil on top of the fish. You want a thin coat on the entire top of the fish so the topping will stick. Salt and pepper the cod.
• In a small bowl mix together the panko, parmesan, Italian Seasoning, garlic powder, and lemon zest.
• Carefully put the topping on the fish and lightly press it onto the fish. You can also put the topping on a flat plate and firmly press the top of the fish into the topping.
• Bake the cod for 10-12 minutes until it turns opaque and flakes with a fork.
• Serve with lemon and parsely and enjoy!

Notes

Storage & Leftovers

You can store any leftover Parmesan Crusted Cod in the refrigerator for up to 3 days in an airtight container.  I think it's best enjoyed freshly cooked out of the oven, but it does keep.  To reheat it, microwave it for about 1 minute.

Freezing

I would not re-freeze the cooked fish because it would turn mushy.

Nutrition

Calories: 219kcalCarbohydrates: 7gProtein: 34gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 79mgSodium: 263mgPotassium: 765mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 143IUVitamin C: 16mgCalcium: 146mgIron: 1mg

Keyword Parmesan Breaded Cod, Parmesan Crusted Cod

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